International Karate season drawing to a close

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International Karate season

With the international Karate season nearing its wind up, top tier international karatekas maintain form to remain in the top ranks with few tournaments remaining to decide the final ranks.

Spain’s superstar Damian Quintero dominates the rankings of Male Kata with a silver medal at the World Games and the title of the Karate 1 Series A Toledo being his recent achievements. At 2300 points is Japan’s Ryo Kyuna the reigning world champion. Venezuela’s Antonio Diaz, who bagged a bronze at the World Games, and Ali Sofuoglu of Turkey with his silver at the European Championship take up the top spots in the rankings.

Meanwhile the Iranian Ace Amir Mehdizadeh has the top spot in the Male -60kg Kumite rankings fresh off his gold at the Asian Championship and the silver at the World Games. The most promising karateka this season, the 20 year old Sadriddin Saymatov of Uzbekistan has achieved the 2nd position of the ranks with the silver at the Asian Championships and three golds in three Karate 1 Premier League tournaments being his latest achievements. Two-time world champion Douglas Brose of Brazil and World Championship silver medalist Netherland’s Geoffrey Berens are also among the top ranks.

The Male -67kg Kumite rankings are dominated by Andres Madera of Venezuela with Hungary’s Yves Martial Tadissi on the tail behind just 15 points in rank 2. He claimed the silver at the World Championship. Brazil’s Vinicius Figueira is just 346 points behind the leader and rising star Steven Dacosta holds the fourth place right after his victory at the World Games.

Furthermore, in the Male -75kg Kumite rankings USA Captain Thomas Scott remains at number one with his three recent medals this season. Injury ridden World Champion Rafael Aghayev of Azerbaijan takes rank 2 with a lack of mere 25 points. Italy’s Luigi Busa and Turkey’s Erman Eltemur also claim top spots in the rankings.

Japan’s Ryutaro Araga with his World Games silver and two golds at Karate 1 Premiers maintains a comfortable lead in the Male -84kg Kumite rankings. Aykhan Mamayev of Azerbaijan the World Championship silver medalist secures the 2nd rank while Turkey’s Ugur Aktas contends with the 3rd place. World Games title holder Zabiollah Poorshab of Iran takes up the 4th position among the rankings.

Iran’s Sajad Ganjzadeh leads the ranks of Male -84kg Kumite with his recent World Games silver and two Karate 1 Premier League golds. Enes Erkan of Turkey finishes after his in 2nd while Achraf Ouchen of Morocco also secures a top spot among the rankings.

Moreover in the female categories, Spain’s Sandra Sanchez with the recent silver at the World Games earns the top spot of Female Kata having reached the podium in all six major international events. Finishing second is Viviana Bottaro of Italy winning gold in all Karate 1 Premiers and a silver at the European Championship. Rising Star Kiyou Shimizu are on the tails of the leading two, finishing third but in superior form with her record breaking winning streak of six continuous years to which the recent World Games Kata title too was added.

Meanwhile Frenchwoman Alexandra Recchia aces the Female -50kg Kumite with her recent victory at the World Games being added to her points tally. Austria’s Bettina Plank secures the 2nd spot at only 84 points and Turkey’s Serap Ozcelik is placed in rank 3 with the recent bronze at the World Games.

The top spot of the Female -55kg Kumite rankings is taken by Brazil’s Valeria Kumizaki with the recent prevailing at the World Games. Chinese Tai Pei’s Tzu Yun Wen finishes in 2nd place in the rankings. Former World Champion Sara Cardin of Italy and defending World Champion Emilie Thuoy of France too are positioned among the top ranks.

Slovakia’s Ingrida Suchankova secures 1st place amonmg the ranks of Female -61kg Kumite with France’s World Championship silver medalist Lucia Ignace trails behind at 2nd place. Asian Champion Xiaoyan Yin of China secures third place determined to promote herself to the 2nd place as the title will only be finalized after the upcoming international championships.

The Female -68kg Kumite top rank goes to Alisa Buchinger of Austria leading with a difference of a good 1000 points over Azerbaijan’s Irina Zaretska – the reigning Europian Champion and World Games silver medalist.  Switzerland’s Elena Quirici finishes 3rd while France’s Alizee Agier is placed 4th among the category ranks.

World and Asian Champion Ayumi Uekusa of Japan will be leading the Female +84kg Kumite rankings with her impressive track record leading almost 2300 points over Slovakia’s Dominika Tatarova. France’s Anne Florentin is placed 3rd in the category ranks.

The upcoming First-Class Competition after the summer break and the remaining Karate 1 Premiers will be the centre of the Karate fraternity’s focus as these competitions will decide and finalize the final rankings.